The Herald
13 October 2009
Harare — Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart will today meet Zimsec staff to try and resolve a row that threatens the smooth running of public examinations in November.
Minister Coltart said he would first meet with management before separately engaging workers at 2pm.
He said he had requested the meeting after ascertaining that business had ground to a halt at the exams body despite alleged claims by management that everything was in order.
“I called for the meeting after realising that workers at the institution had downed their tools.
“Considering that exams are just around the corner, this must be treated as a matter of urgency so that examinations won’t be disrupted,” he said.
It is understood that Zimsec management might have been misrepresenting to the ministry that there was no strike.
There are also allegations that the management wanted to buy themselves new cars when workers were demanding improved salaries.
Yesterday, Minister Coltart met Zimsec management ahead of today’s talks and said not much headway had been made in ending the impasse.
He said management had presented him with documents showing how management had been using funds this year and he told them to go back and clear some grey areas.
“We could have finalised everything today (yesterday) but I queried some of the contents of the budget.
“I ordered them to go and work on their budget overnight so that we will map the way forward,” he said.
Employees at the examinations body downed tools last Thursday demanding that the lowest paid worker get a salary of US$400, up from the current US$115.
Yesterday, Zimsec workers vowed to continue with their strike, with some of them saying management had resolved to buy top-of-the-range vehicles.
They accused their superiors of “general insensitivity” which they said made it impossible for them to continue performing their normal duties.
“They are saying they do not have money but they are on the verge of acquiring new cars. Where does that money come from?
“These managers want to enjoy themselves to the last drop with Zimsec funds and this must be stopped immediately,” said one of the workers.
They urged Government to address their grievances urgently so that 2009 examination preparations would not be affected.
“There will end up being a skeletal staff here to prepare for the exams and this will impact on quality. Government has to intervene before things worsen,” another worker added.
Contacted for comment, Zimsec public relations manager Mr Ezekiel Pasipamire referred all questions to his director Mr Happy Ndanga.
Mr Ndanga declined to comment on the allegations yesterday and said he would discuss the issue “later”.
There are fears that if the problem is not resolved soon, the situation will affect the running of exams, with Grade 7 testing just a few weeks away.
Grade 7 exams are expected to start on October 27 with Ordinary and Advanced Level papers following later.